Improvement in chairs



F. H. FOSTER.

CHAIRS.

190,842. Patented May15, 1877.

Iran k HIoaen NVPEI'ERS, FHOTO-LITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON. D, C

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK H. FOSTER, OF CHELSEA, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CHAIRS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 190,842, dated Maj15,1877; application filed March 6, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. FOSTER, of Chelsea, of the county ofSuffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Chairs; and do hereby declare the same to be described inthe following specification, and represented in the accompanyingdrawings, of which- Figure 1 is a top view, Fig. 2 a bottom view, Fig. 3a side elevation, and Fig. 4a1ongitudinal section, of a chair embracingmy invention.

The back and seat-frame A of this chair are composed, as represented, oftwo curved side bars, a a, two cross-bars, b c, and a rung, d, thelatter being extended from one side bar to the other at their bends.

The front legs 0 e project down from the frame A at or about at rightangles with the seat thereof. The back legs f f, however,standobliquely, in manner as shown, to the seat-portions of the sidebars, and are fastened by screws to and project above such portions, andare joined to the arms g 9 near the front ends thereof. The said arms attheir rear parts are lapped on and fastened by screws to the backportions of the side bars a a.

From the above it will be seen that the pressure of the body of thesitter, when in the chair, against the chair-hack, will he counteracted,in a measure, if not entirely, byhis weight imposed on the seat, for theback legs by such weight will be caused to operate as levers in a mannerto force the chair-arms forward, and cause a draft or strain on the backportions of the side bars. Each of the side and end bars a a b c of theframe A is grooved lengthwise on its under side, such be ing as shown ati. It is also provided with a series of other grooves, k, arranged atequal distances apart and around it transversely, and opening out of orintersecting the lengthwise groove. Within these transverse andlongitudinal grooves a cord or cords or a wire or wires, 1, are run orarranged and interwoven in manner as shown, they running from one sidebar to the other, and also from one end bar to the other, of thechair-frame.

In being applied to the frame, the cord or wire is carried in adirection from one transverse groove of one bar to its opposite grooveof the other bar. Next, the cord is bent down in the latter groove, andthence into the longituninal groove, and into the next transversegroove. The cord is next carried back Within the last-named groove, andin the opposite direction across the chair to the opposite groove. Afterhaving run the cord as many times as may be necessary transverselyacross the entire seat and back of the chair in such way, I next run itsuccessively lengthwise of the frame in like manner from each groove tothe opposite groove, and interweave it with the transverse and parallelranges of it, whereby I form an elastic back and seat to the chair, allbeing as shown. Between the bends of the side bars of the frame A theseat and back will be crowned or arched upward, whereby the tendency ofthe back and seat to sag down wili be counteracted or opposed.

In the above-described chair I claim as of my invention as follows:

1. The combination of the curved frame A and its front legs 6 c with theback legs or levers ff, arranged obliquely to the seat and extended upand secured, as described, to the arms 9 g, arranged with and fastenedto the frame A, all being substantially as set forth.

2. The frame A, provided with the longitudinal and transverse grooves 11is arranged in it, substantially as represented.

3. The frame A, provided with the longitudinal and transverse grooves iis arranged in it, as described, in combination with the cord or cords llaid in such grooves and 'across the frame and interwoven, essentiallyin manner as shown and explained.

FRANK H. FOSTER. Witnesses:

R. H. EDDY, J. It. Snow.

